Chris Matthews will bring a town hall edition of his show to NCCU.

MSNBC’s “Hardball” is on a college tour that has gone from places like Georgetown and Seton Hall, and tomorrow it will visit N.C. Central’s campus.

The tour started Sept. 18 and is making its way to a different campus each week.

Each show has a special guest. The guest for the NCCU show is scheduled to be N.C. Sen. John Edwards, Democratic presidential hopeful.

“I believe I can be a champion for regular people,” Edwards has posted on his campaign Web site, www.johnedwards2004.com.

“Hardball” host Chris Matthews was a speech writer for President Carter and a top aide to former House Speaker Tip O’Neill.

Matthews has a no-nonsense style of interviewing, asking tough questions and getting right down to the point.

Students, faculty and staff are working hard to prepare for the live telecast.

Students have been selected from various departments around campus to sit on the panel.

Students were also selected from the Honda All-Stars team, which is a national African American quiz bowl team.

“We want to make sure students are aware of national and international issues” said Percy Murray, faculty senate chairperson. Murray is working to prepare students to ask and respond to questions appropriately.

“We want to know John Edwards' views on things like affirmative action,” said Murray.

Another question students may ask is how much the war will cost taxpayers.

Murray talked about the president’s recent State of the Union Address, and how Bush has decided to help fight HIV-AIDS in Africa by allocating $450 billion for treatment.

“If the president gives billions of dollars to another country, that means there are going to be some domestic things that won’t be taken care of,” said Murray.

The “Hardball” telecast was discussed at a Jan. 30 meeting in which Chancellor James A. Ammons talked about the importance and significance of this event.

“This tour just started last year, and they have visited a number of campuses, giving these campuses national exposure – in fact, global exposure. And for them to select Central as a site, makes us the first black college to host it,” said Ammons.

Ammons said he is extremely excited about this event.

“I think the students, faculty, staff and alumni recognize that our university is being treated like other universities,” said Ammons. “You cannot put a price tag on the exposure this university will get from this event.”